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Casilla may ditch switch-hitting, bat right-handed

4/22/13: Munenori Kawasaki cannot make the play on Alexi Casilla's routine grounder, extending the frame for Nick Markakis to walk off

By Brittany Ghiroli
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MLB.com |

MINNESOTA -- Orioles infielder Alexi Casilla has been working on his right-handed swing, an experiment that could eventually see him phase out his status as a switch-hitter.

Casilla, in the starting lineup Friday against Twins righty Mike Pelfrey, said he was approached by the team a few weeks ago about making the move, and he has been doing work with hitting coach Jim Presley in the batting cages and during pregame BP.

"They think I can stay better on the ball, on top of the ball better from my right side," Casilla said. "I don't know. Let's see. Let's see what happens. It's baseball.

"If I do good against righties from my right side -- it's a test now for me. And I'm very confident I'm going to do good."

Casilla is 0-for-5 in two games hitting as a right-handed batter against a right-handed pitcher, and he said he will start Friday's game as a lefty, but he could move over depending on how he's feeling.

"I'm not there yet. I'm hoping he has three hits tonight left-handed," O's manager Buck Showalter said. "It's not like there's a huge split difference between the two. I don't think we have enough sampling to be making those decisions right now.

"It's not like it's his first year in the big leagues. I'm not going to throw that out there tonight. I hope tonight is the start of some really good things for us from that standpoint."